Shoshana Johnson, the first black female soldier in America's history to be taken as a prisoner of war, presents the much-anticipated story of her capture and imprisonment in Iraq and what happened after her rescue.

In March 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom was barely in its infancy when a U.S. Army supply convoy was attacked in Iraq. Several soldiers were killed and six were taken prisoner. Their captors released a grainy video revealing the faces of the first POWs of the war in Iraq. One of the female soldiers was Shoshana Johnson, the first black female prisoner of war in America's military history. The other was Jessica Lynch who caught the media's attention.

Now, after years of coming to terms with her capture and its aftermath, Shoshana recounts her full story with candor, exposing her emotions and frustrations and addressing her fears. For the first time, she'll also explain the strange decision made by higher-ups that led to their weapons jamming during the fight so they couldn't defend themselves; the true reason why their convoy made a wrong turn which led to their capture; and what, exactly, happened to her and her fellow soldiers during the 22 days of their captivity, which none of them have told because of a military gag order. Her perspective of the ambush is revealing and her insight into life as a female POW inspirational.

Shoshana is a living testimony to the power of prayer and the strength that comes through a trusting faith.

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Listener Opinions

by MichelleAM Mendoza | 10/26/2013

" I was very entralled to have read this book about my oldest and dearest friend. Although I wish she had never had to endure this event in her life, she protrayed her struggles brillantly and has come out an even stronger and independent woman. I loved it. "

by Marcie | 9/8/2013

" Very interesting. Shoshana was a captured soldier in Iraq. Same incident as Jessica Lynch. Good read, but did get a little boring on the last chapter. "

by Debbersb10 | 8/16/2012

" I can't imagine myself in her position. In my opionion, the book is not very well written. It is repetitive and slow. "

by Mary | 2/7/2012

" Very well written first person account of the first Black female to be captured in Iraq. Shoshana is a very courageous woman and I am thankful to her and all of our service personnel for their service. If you want to know the true story of what happened that day, read this book. "

" An important story told not very well, sorry to say. The plight and heroism of Shoshana Johnson and her colleagues deserves a far better telling than this. "

Betsy | 7/9/2011

" This lady's story is quite something. I couldn't put it down. The truth about the war in Iraq is so much more interesting than the boatload of lies we've been sold by our government. "

Shannon | 6/28/2011

" This book was amazing!! A definite must read for everyone, especially those that aren't familiar with the unfortunate situations a soldier could possibly find themselves in. You never think it would be you. "

Connie | 6/14/2011

" A true account of the events leading up to the capture of the first female POWs of the Iraqi conflict. She's not bitter, but I felt hope at the end of the book and highly recommend it to anyone curious about the incident, whose most famous face was Jessica Lynch. "

Jessie | 5/1/2010

" An interesting story. Shana Johnson comes across as a very real person. "

Debbersb10 | 3/9/2010

" I can't imagine myself in her position. In my opionion, the book is not very well written. It is repetitive and slow.
"

Sheryl | 2/22/2010

" An important story told not very well, sorry to say. The plight and heroism of Shoshana Johnson and her colleagues deserves a far better telling than this.
"

Other Titles by Shoshana Johnson:

About the Author

Shoshana Nyree Johnson was born in the Republic of Panama and moved to the United States with her family when she was a child. A second-generation Army veteran, she did not plan a career in the military but became a JROTC cadet in 1991 and joined the U.S. Army in September 1998 while attending classes at the University of Texas at El Paso. She lives in El Paso, Texas, with her daughter, sisters, and two nieces.

About the Narrator

Napiera Groves, born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, attended the School for the Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati and then earned a BFA degree from Howard University. She also studied at the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University in England. Her extensive training in theater, music, and dance brought her numerous roles in television, film, and theater, including the role of Bonnie McKechnie on the Emmy Award–winning CBS daytime drama, As the World Turns. She works extensively in both Los Angeles and New York, where she recently acted on Broadway as “Lady of the Lake” in the Tony Award–winning show Spamalot.

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